Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week: Top Breastfeeding Tips with Ashley Hoseclaw, MSN, RN, IBCLC

At Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, we’re joining others across the globe for World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August) to share advice, tips, and support to help with personal journeys. Coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), this annual campaign raises awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and works to support breastfeeding people while normalizing the practice.

World Breastfeeding Week is the perfect time to discuss the importance of quality perinatal education. Ashley Hoseclaw, a professional perinatal educator, shares her top tips for new mothers to help ensure a successful breastfeeding journey. Learn how to get your breastfeeding journey off to the right start with Ashley's advice!

Tip One:

Your body begins preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy. You may notice your breasts leaking colostrum, which is the earliest form of breastmilk, around mid-way through your pregnancy. Colostrum is very nutrient dense and concentrated. It provides antibodies and all the nutrition your baby needs. Over the first few days after delivery, your milk will gradually transition from colostrum to mature milk as it also increases in amount. This is perfect because your baby’s tummy is growing as your supply increases. Your body is designed to produce exactly what your baby needs to grow and thrive.

Tip Two:

Most breastfeeding mothers will require a breast pump when they go back to work. All insurance companies provide assistance with purchasing a pump, whether in full or partially. Contact your lactation consultant to have help determining what type of pump will best fit your needs. You’ll also need to reach out directly to your insurance company to see what pumps and level of assistance is offered for your insurance plan.

Tip Three:

We encourage exclusive, direct breastfeeding for baby’s first month of life. This ensures we establish a solid breastfeeding relationship. After this period, you can begin to offer an occasional bottle of expressed breastmilk if you desire. If you will be going back to school, work, or may be separated from baby for even brief periods you may find it helpful for someone else to be able to feed baby. If babies aren’t offered a bottle in the first few months, they may refuse a bottle later on. Work with your lactation consultant to determine the best time to introduce a bottle of expressed milk.

Tip Four:

Once you are using a pump to express your breastmilk, you’ll need to know how to handle and store it. Always wash your hands prior to expressing your milk and ensure you are regularly cleaning your pump parts appropriately.

Human Milk Storage Guidelines

Tip Five:

If you’ll be returning to school or work after delivering your baby, work with your lactation consultant to develop a plan leading to that transition. First, keep in mind, most moms will need to express their milk for every missed feeding. We want to keep mom and baby’s bodies in sync and maintain mom’s supply. When mom is away baby will likely take expressed milk from a bottle. Reach out to your healthcare provider or lactation consultant to develop a schedule, but a good starting point is approximately 1 ounce per hour for baby. For example, start by offering 2 ounces every 2 hours or 3 ounces every 3 hours. This can vary from one family to the next, but this is a good rule of thumb.

Tip Six:

Nutrition for mom as she provides nutrition for baby. Moms need extra calories when they are breastfeeding. Moms should consume a healthy and diverse diet and stay well hydrated. Generally, there are no food groups that are off limits, though some foods should be limited. For example, seafood that is high in mercury and caffeinated drinks should be limited. Consult your healthcare provider before consuming any vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter medications. Many medications are safe when breastfeeding, but some are not. Some medications, while considered safe, may not be ideal for use while breastfeeding as they could harm mom’s milk supply.

Tip Seven:

There are laws in place to protect breastfeeding. These laws vary from state-to-state. Kentucky law supports that breastfeeding mothers have a right to breastfeed in a public or private place they are allowed to be. Law also requires employers to provide a place for employees to express their breastmilk other than a bathroom.

Need additional assistance? Ashley's services as a lactation consultant are FREE and available even after you are discharged from Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.  She can be reached at 606.678.3176, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. For more information about the women's care services at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, visit us online here. 

Learn more about our breastfeeding support services at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital: